Kentucky 74-73 over Wisconsin, to play for title

Kentucky guard Aaron Harrison (2) celebrates after making a three-point basket in the final seconds against Wisconsin to win the game 74-73 during their NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game Saturday, April 5, 2014, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press

Kentucky guard Aaron Harrison (2) celebrates after making a three-point basket in the final seconds against Wisconsin to win the game 74-73 during their NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game Saturday, April 5, 2014, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

"He was pretty deep out there," Gasser said. "He hadn't really looked to pull up for a shot the entire game. I saw him start to rise up, and I tried to contest the best I could. I thought I did a good job, but he made another good shot."

It was Harrison's only attempt from 3 all night; the Wildcats went only 2 for 5 as a team.

James Young went to the rim hard in the first half and led Kentucky with 17 points. Randle finished with 16, but only five boards to snap his string of three straight double-doubles.

But Kentucky did damage in other ways on the inside, finding the answer for Wisconsin's do-everything 7-footer, Frank Kaminsky, who was held to eight points and five rebounds.

Ben Brust and Dekker had 15 each for the Badgers, who came up a game short of their first appearance in the final since 1941.

Instead, it's Kentucky going for its ninth national title and second in three years, with an almost completely rebuilt roster from 2012. It's the way Calipari does it, like it or not, and it hasn't all been easy sailing. The team that was ranked first in the preseason poll fell out of it completely for the start of March Madness.

Only then, did the Wildcats start playing to their potential.

"They know I believe in them. Aaron knows," Calipari said. "If you've watched us, we have a bunch of stars on this team."

Harrison is the biggest of them in this tournament. If he chooses to leave after Monday, he'll have first-round potential, though it won't be his final numbers in this game — eight points, three rebounds — that will impress the scouts as much as his final shot.

"He was smiling, like he knew he was going to make it," Andrew Harrison said. "He's a big-time player. I've never seen anything like it."